36 Chapter 36
"With your current level of strength, you already have access to some of the Uchiha Clan's secrets," Uchiha Tenjō remarked, taking a scroll from the shelf and handing it to Fugaku. "This is the Clan's cherished scroll on Fūinjutsu."
Fūinjutsu is relatively easy to learn but difficult to master. There are only a few Shinobi who have truly mastered Fūinjutsu. Typically, it requires careful teaching from powerful Shinobi since childhood."
Fugaku nodded in understanding. Looking at the Shinobi who were able to master Fūinjutsu in the later generations of the ninja world, he could see the difficulty involved in achieving mastery of this art.
Uchiha Tenjō handed Fugaku a peculiarly-shaped key with irregular patterns on its five sides. "This is the key to the Chamber of Secrets," he explained.
"In the future, you can spend a few days each month exploring some of the Clan's secrets and learning treasured Ninjutsu," Uchiha Tenjō said. "However, I don't want you to become too engrossed in it. Remember, the most important thing is strength. Merely possessing knowledge of Ninjutsu without the strength to back it up is mere empty talk."
"Father, I will keep your words in mind," Fugaku assured him.
Exiting the chamber, Fugaku noticed the diligent Police Guards still carrying out their duties. Uchiha Tenjō hurriedly left, and Fugaku examined the scroll he held, slowly unraveling it.
Fūinjutsu is a technique that employs various methods to isolate or confine objects within a specific space. These objects can include both tangible and intangible entities, living or inanimate.
Although the Uchiha Clan was not particularly renowned for their expertise in Fūinjutsu, the scroll contained numerous techniques that had been gathered over time, many of which were acquired during the Sengoku Period.
The Sengoku Period was marked by battles among different factions, and as one of the most prominent clans during that era, the Uchiha Clan engaged in countless conflicts, amassing a vast number of spoils of war.
To learn Fūinjutsu, one must first familiarize themselves with the different styles of the technique. Each style represents a distinct meaning, and by combining various styles, different Fūinjutsu can be formed.
Certain Fūinjutsu require the use of hand seals, and true experts in Fūinjutsu can directly inscribe these seals onto a person's body using their Chakra.
For instance, Orochimaru's Gogyō Fūin utilizes five different Chakras to inscribe the technique within Naruto's body, interfering with the Yōndaime's seal on the Nine-Tails.
Fugaku's initial practice involved mastering the portal pattern. By committing each movement to memory and skillfully inscribing it with Chakra, he gradually began to depict the Fūinjutsu.
For two consecutive weeks, alongside his regular training, Fugaku devoted himself to learning the art of inscription. He had memorized several simple techniques and felt it was time to put them to the test.
The mountainside of the Uchiha Clan was covered in lush forests, providing the perfect setting for Fugaku's experiments with small animals, starting from weaker creatures and gradually progressing to stronger ones.
The verdant greenery of the Land of Fire ensured a year-round spring-like environment, and during his intense training sessions, Fugaku made use of wooden targets that had become worn and cracked over time, indicating the need for replacements and adjustments.
The current difficulty level seemed rather simple.
Within the forest, Fugaku noticed an ant nest bustling with activity. Carefully, he inscribed the technique around the nest, meticulously forming a basic Fūinjutsu, a process that took around ten minutes.
This was the most elementary form of Fūinjutsu, applied using seal formations.
With his hands forming the necessary seals, Fugaku connected with the technique etched on the ground, culminating in a decisive snap onto the ant nest.
On the ground, the Fūinjutsu pattern moved towards the nest, eventually intersecting and sealing it off. The ants that tried to enter or exit were obstructed by the seal, accumulating on both sides. Some ants resorted to gnawing at the seal.
However, the Fūinjutsu broke in less than a minute, as expected. It was merely a simple seal without a proper carrier, lacking strength and endurance.
Fugaku continued experimenting throughout the afternoon, honing his mastery of the seals. He planned to capture live creatures, provide them with a carrier, and arrange the Fūinjutsu within, thus testing their effectiveness.
As a rabbit darted across his path and disappeared into a hole, a mouse emerged from the same opening. Fugaku swiftly caught the mouse by its head.
Returning home, he retrieved a transparent glass box, inscribed the Fūinjutsu pattern within it, placed the mouse inside, and formed the necessary seals with his hands, channeling Chakra into the box.
The box was now encircled by a series of Fūinjutsu patterns, securely sealing the mouse inside. Although the lid could be easily opened with a gentle touch, the Fūinjutsu maintained a tight connection, preventing escape.
Occasional knocking sounds emitted from the box, evidence of the mouse's struggle to break free, yet the seal remained intact.
Considered a successful experiment, Fugaku spent the following weeks capturing various small animals and subjecting them to his sealing techniques. From mice to squirrels and rabbits, all were sealed by his hand.
A month had passed since Fugaku's return from the Land of Rain. He had dedicated this time to the study of Fūinjutsu, gaining a preliminary understanding of the art. He could now effectively manifest Fūinjutsu through simple seal formations.
Fugaku returned to the mountainside once again, intending to capture a larger animal for his sealing experiments.
"Fugaku, it's been a while," Uchiha Kon's voice came from behind. "I heard from Lord Patriarch that you've been studying Fūinjutsu lately. While deep Fūinjutsu possesses its uniqueness, it might not be the most effective way to enhance your strength. Learning seals might be a waste of time."
Fugaku turned, a smile on his face. He was already certain that Uchiha Kon had approached him intentionally, reminding him not to become overly engrossed in Fūinjutsu cultivation.
He nodded and greeted Uchiha Kon, "Rest assured, my strength has not waned. I have been diligently training and making progress."
Uchiha Kon suggested, "Instead of devoting all your time to training, how about we spar? It's been quite some time since we last tested our skills against each other."
Fugaku agreed, eager to assess his recent improvement. After all, the fruits of his labor in training needed to be validated through real combat.
During their previous encounter, Fugaku lacked the strength he currently possessed and was ultimately defeated by Uchiha Kon.
They stood facing each other in an open space within the mountainside forest. Fugaku's current capabilities far surpassed his previous self, causing Uchiha Kon to regard him warily.
Fugaku had no intention of being defeated by someone younger than him, especially not after his prior loss.
Both possessed the Sharingan with three tomoe, observing each other intently. Fugaku believed he held a significant advantage in this battle. Although both sides had the basic three tomoe, Fugaku had absorbed Pupil Strength numerous times, making his Sharingan more formidable than that of most three-tomoe clansmen.
